Former Australian Superbike Champion Glenn Allerton today indicated that he and BMW’s S 1000 RR will be a force to be reckoned with in the 2011 ASBK series, setting the fastest lap in the opening practice session of the season.

Though a recent shakedown indicated the European bike would be quick, few would have predicted this immediate impact.

Allerton pounced on the last of his eight laps, delivering a tidy time of 1:34.354 to hold off Team Honda Racing’s Wayne Maxwell by a 0.241-second margin.

With only a few days of on-track development behind it, the Procon Racing machine, campaigned by Hepburn Motorsport, must surely be considered a championship chance with Allerton on board.

The 30-year-old was pleased with his lap times and thanked his team for their effort.

“I’m really happy with how the bike felt today, it was fast and worked well on the tyres – I had a heap of fun,” said Allerton. “I’m excited about the weekend ahead and feel we can be a real factor in the results.

“I can’t fault the effort of the team at Hepburn Motorsport. We’ve had only two weeks to prepare for the round and everyone has worked tirelessly to build a bike that is quick and handles well.”

Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss was third-fastest, the result making for three different manufacturers at the top of the times heets.

Last year’s Superstock 1000 C and D Champion Cru Halliday was the quickest of the Prostock competitors today, setting a 1:39.053 lap aboard his Yamaha R1.

With their brother Josh making an impact on the World Superbike stage, Brodie and Nick Waters were quick to respond in the Supersport class.

The Victorian siblings were first and second-fastest respectively aboard their Suzuki GSX-R600 racers – Brodie in his debut for Team Suzuki.

Slotting in behind the Waters brothers were Yamaha-mounted riders Kevin Curtain, Aaron Gobert and Rick Olson.

Yamaha’s R6 claimed the three fastest times in a packed Superstock field today.

Reece Bancell Scholarship recipient Mike Jones was the standout with an electrifying 1:38.901 lap. Sean Condon and Andrew Kings, both New South Welshmen, filled positions two and three.

The Superbike/Prostock field, backed this weekend by ASBK presenting sponsor QBE, will contest a further practice session tomorrow, followed by the first of two qualifying sessions.

The Supersport and Superstock classes will contest two 20-minute qualifying sessions apiece.

Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship
Round 1 – Phillip Island, VIC
Thursday Practice

Superbike:
1. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) / Procon Racing, BMW S 1000 RR, 1:34.354
2. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR, 1:34.595
3. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:35.001
4. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing , Honda CBR-RR, 1:36.050
5. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus Gas Honda, Honda CBR, 1:36.211
6. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:36.253
7. Beau BEATON (NSW) / North Coast V-Twins, Ducati 1198 R 1:36.287
8. Ben ATTARD (QLD) Aprilia RSV4, 1:36.707
9. Ben HENRY (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R, 1:37.597
10. Kris McLAREN (VIC) / Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award, Honda CBR-RR, 1:38.221

Supersport:
1. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:38.634
2. Nicholas WATERS (VIC) / Waters Racing, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:39.140
3. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.616
4. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6 1:39.758
5. Rick OLSON (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.064
6. Blake LEIGH-SMITH (QLD), Suzuki GSX-R, 1:40.207
7. Mitchell CARR (NSW) / Carr Bros. Motorsport, Triumph Daytona, 1:40.584
8. Christan CASELLA (VIC) Triumph Daytona, 1:40.594
9. Chris QUINN (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.837
10. Dylan MAVIN (QLD) / Champion’s Ride Days Race Team, Honda CBR-RR, 1:41.188

Superstock:
1. Michael JONES (QLD) / Reece Bancell Scholarship, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.901
2. Sean CONDON (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.089
3. Andrew KINGS (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.660
4. Josh HOOK (NSW) Honda CBRR, 1:42.032
5. Mark WILKINSON (VIC) Kawasaki ZX6, 1:42.124
6. Timothy McGREGOR (NSW) Kawasaki ZX6R, 1:42.950
7. Daniel FALZON (SA) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:43.210
8. Adrian DI GIANDOMENICO (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.353
9. James BECK (NSW) / Evermil Pty Ltd, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:44.760
10. James MUTTON (QLD) / Brisbane Motorcycles, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:45.008